Archive for the 'Sami Vatanen' Tag Under 'Ducks' Category

ANAHEIM – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 5-3 home loss to Washington …

-- Winning in Carolina to end a road trip proved to be a win and nothing much else. It surely wasn’t a cure-all for the Ducks.

The energy that was missing on the road returned when they got back to Honda Center. The Ducks were skating once again with some pace and with Washington going with struggling backup Justin Peters in net, they were able to translate that into some early goals.

“We played the start of the game great,” center Ryan Getzlaf said. “The first four shifts of the game, I don’t think the puck was in our zone. We were definitely ready to play. That’s a good sign for our group.”

Now push that aside. The Ducks haven’t gotten rid of other issues that are plaguing them during a 3-5-1 slump. Yes, it can be now qualified as a slump.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 4-0 road win over Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night …

-- Bruce Boudreau likes a good defensive game. Honest.

His teams in Washington and now Anaheim have had the reputation of being a little lacking on that side of the puck, at least when it comes having one that can win a Stanley Cup. And his attacking, offensive-minded style plays right into that.

Boudreau was also a big-time scorer at that junior and American Hockey League level as a player so that rounds out the perception that he’s all about offense. But he knows that defense will be what helps him shed the label that he can’t win in the playoffs.

A thorough beating administered to the Canucks for their sixth straight victory had the Ducks feeling like they have the capabilities to be a shutdown group. Vancouver had just 17 shots on goal – seven coming in the last two periods – and the Ducks made it an easy night for goalie Frederik Andersen.

Vatanen was docked $3,393.82 by the league's Department of Player Safety. The amount is the maximum percentage allowable under the collective bargaining agreement against his salary.

The incident occurred at 9:35 of the third period as Vatanen went to play the puck near the sideboard and got his elbow up, making contact with Booth as the Leafs winger skated toward the defenseman in the Toronto zone.

Booth, who has had two known significant concussions, was injured on the play and had to leave the game. It is not known if he will have to miss time.

ANAHEIM – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 4-0 home win over Toronto on Wednesday night …

-- The crowd, finally witnessing a nerves-free breather from their usually nerve-racking team, began to cheer in earnest as they saw the Maple Leafs’ net vacated.

“Per-ry, Per-ry,” shouted many of the announced 16,741 in attendance.

Ask and one shall deliver. After a couple of other teammates failed to put the puck into the net from distance, Perry got it in his zone and his aim was true. It finished off a hat trick for the winger, his third of the season and eighth of his career.

No other player has more three-goal games this season. Perry has 18 goals in 29 contests, which only makes you wonder where his total would be at if the mumps hadn’t derailed his boiling-hot start or a knee injury got in the way of his comeback from the viral disease.

TORONTO – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night …

-- The goaltending question has reared its uneasy head once again. It also has the looks of one that will be revisited throughout the year, one the Ducks will need to get straightened out before the playoffs – assuming the current NHL points leader stays in its lofty position.

This is the team that used three netminders in their eventual seven-game loss to the Kings in the 2014 second round. Frederik Andersen’s wobbly effort against the Maple Leafs and the sheer presence of Ilya Bryzgalov doesn’t give the impression that everything is set in their net.

Did Andersen struggle because he’s simply in need of a rest? Maybe. He’s been in for 19 straight games and had just come off three starts of allowing just four goals total to Edmonton (twice) and Winnipeg.

ANAHEIM – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 5-4 shootout triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night …

-- They’re one-third of the way in so we have some idea of what the Ducks are. They’ve shown improvement in detail stuff like faceoffs. They’re far better in penalty killing. And in areas of goaltending and defense, they’ve wavered in both but also don’t have their full complement in both because of injuries.

The Ducks are also not the offensive juggernaut of last season as this group doesn’t have as many natural playmakers. The number of tic-toe-toe plays that have taken place this season can be counted on one hand. But they do have Sami Vatanen.

Vatanen looks as if he has been unleashed this season, which might have been the plan all along. He’s not a complete player yet as he can still be exposed on defense but the diminutive Finn is a wonder in the offensive zone.

ANAHEIM – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night …

-- Devante Smith-Pelly’s second-period goal was a big one as it gave the Ducks a lead that they would never lose. It was also big in that they’ve been in desperate need of offense production beyond Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler (and Matt Beleskey as it turns out).

The goal, a tip by Smith-Pelly of a Cam Fowler shot, finished off a great shift by the new center and his wings, Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks have gotten precious little scoring throughout their lineup.

“Listen, you can’t win in this league quite frankly unless you get production from all four lines,” Boudreau said. “All four lines have got to have the ability to put a little bit of fear in the other team. And if you don’t, then it’s tough to win. Because you can put guys out that can check on line.

ANAHEIM – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ 3-2 home win over Calgary on Tuesday night …

-- In case we forgot, Kyle Palmieri can score goals. The winger hasn’t had that breakout season yet and his 2014-15 started badly with a high ankle sprain keeping him from action until Nov. 16.

But Palmieri is making up for lost time. His goal with 16 seconds left in the second period would prove massive as the gutsy Flames rallied in the third once again to make it a one-goal game late.

And the goal itself was a great individual effort, with Palmieri fighting through a check by Calgary defenseman Deryk Engelland and putting a backhand shot through former teammate and Flames goalie Jonas Hiller even as he went sprawling to the ice.

CALGARY, Alberta – Some notes, quotes and other musings from the Ducks’ come-from-ahead 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames …

-- Where art thou, Francois Beauchemin? The Ducks’ minutes-chomping defenseman was up in the press box along with the injured Devante Smith-Pelly and extra Mat Clark. It is not a place he wants to be and the Ducks don’t want him there either.

Beauchemin has just come back from his bout with mumps and it is likely that he will return for Thursday’s game against Vancouver. The defense corps needs his steady hand on the back line.

Beauchemin’s return would help set things right with the pairings. He’d be back with their best stick-on-puck defender Hampus Lindholm, while Sami Vatanen could be moved up with Cam Fowler and Clayton Stoner might be shuttled back down to a less-taxing role.